Relationship between airborne fungal spore presence and weather variables: Cladosporium and Alternaria

By means of regression analysis the Cladosporium and Alternaria spore counts for 1980–89 for Stockholm are explored and modelled at 6-hour intervals in order to find the relationship between spore presence and climate for the same time periods. Six different weather parameters are used. For Cladosporium daily mean temperature and daily precipitation seem to be consistently significant. The presence of Alternaria appears to be more complex. There is a tendency for Alternaria spore concentrations to increase with the daily precipitation, wind velocity and total cloud cover. The models are evaluated statistically. On the basis of 10 years of data from roof level in Stockholm the natural background load of Cladosporium and Alternaria as the most prevalent fungal aeroallergens is presented and discussed.